Faucet



Patented Jan. 1l, 1938` AUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 11 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to produce a simple, efiicient,and durable faucet construction in which the flow of uids is controlledentirely by members of metal or other hard materials'in contact witheach other.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a simple andnovel all-metal faucet which shall be self-adjusting to compensate'forwear.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a valve element in the form of athin sleeve of resilient metal divided along a longitudinal line so asto permit it to expand and contract, together with an actuatorextending'loosely into the sleeve and having a slot into which themeeting ends of the wall of the sleeve are bent to form a loose drivingconnection. One of the objects of the present`inv'ention is .to producea simple and novel construction which will guard against distortion ofthe sleeve through forces applied in turning the same by means of theactuator or in any other manner, and thus insure perfect lcontactbetween the sleeve and a surrounding cylindrical shell or the like. .l

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterizedwill hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but,for a full understanding of my invention. and of its objects andadvantages, reference may be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through a faucet embodyingthe present invention, the faucet being shown open, and a portion of thevalve stem or actuator being in elevation; Fig. 2 is a section on line2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the valveturned sumciently to close the faucet; Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevationof the sleeve valve, a longitudinal section being boken away to exposethe inner side of the sleeve at the joint between the meeting ends ofthe band or plate from which the sleeve is made; Fig. 5 is a view, on a.smaller scale than Fig. 4, showing the sheet or plate from which thevalve sleeve is made, in a iiat condition; Figs. 6 and l'1 are top planviews of two of the spring washers that underlie a collar on the valvestem and serve to press -this collar up against a bearing surface on anoverlying cap; and Fig. 8 is an edge view of the washer shown in Fig. 7.

'Referring to the drawing, I represents the body member of afaucet'having a cylindrical bore 2. A spout 3 projects from one side ofthe'faucet and ysleeve begins at some distance from the two setscommunicates at its inner end with said bore, in the usual way.

The valve for shutting off communiation betweenA the bore 2 and thespout is a sleeve 4 of spring metal, conveniently formed Afrom a'metal 5plate, vbent into the proper shape. In any event, the sleeve is dividedalong al longitudinal line, so that it may contract and expand. In itsnormal condition, the external diameter of the sleeve is slightlygreater than `the diameter of the bore in the body of the faucet, sothat when the sleeve is inserted in the bore, it exerts an expansive orradial pressure which, if the sleeve has been properly ground or lappedinto the bore, insures a fluid-tight fitexcept for a longitudinal z'one15 containing the joint.

'I'he meeting ends of the wall of the sleeve are bent inwardly and arealso interlocked to prevent relative movements between them in thedirection of the length of the sleeve. The ends of the blank 5 fromwhich the sleeve is made are preferably shaped to provide at oppositeends projecting ears which interengage in the manner of thepintle-receiving ears of a hinge. In the arrangement shown, there aretwo ears' 6 at one end and four ears I at the other end. When the blankis bent or rolled into a tubular form, each of the ears 6 enters thespace betweentwo of the ears 1. Inward deflection of the metal of the ofears, so as to avoid abrupt bends and cause o the free ends of the earsto extend inwardly well toward the axis of the sleeve.\

I prefer, also, to cut i nto the ends of the blank at about thelongitudinal center of the latter, 35 comparatively Wide, deep notches 8and 9 which, when the sleeve has been fashioned, provide a Window ofappreciable size, as best shown in Fig. 4. It should also be noted thatthe bends of the marginal portions of the blank are so made that theears of one set cross those of the other set. as best shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4.

Assuming that the sleeve valve is linserted in the bore of the body ofthe faucet in such a manner that the window produced be'tween notches 8and 9 is in about the plane of the spout of the faucet, and that it isturned until this window registers with the spout, it will be seen thatfluids can enter the interior of the sleeve and flow through this windowinto the spout. Also, fluids can ow lengthwise of the sleeve, betweenthe sleeve and the surrounding wall, through the tunnel or passageformed between the sleeve and the surrounding cylindrical wall in thatzone in which lie the marginal portions of the sleeve 55 wall whichcurveinwardly from the -true surface of revolution. 'I'his condition'isillustrated in Fig. 2. However, if the sleeve be turned through an angleof 90 or even) less, the inlet end of the spout is sealed by anunmutilated and undeformed cylindricaLportion of the sleeve, as shown inFig. 3.

'I'he sleeve valve is stem or actuator.l In the arrangement shown, thebody portion of the faucet extends well above the faucet, and thecylindrical bo`re 2 is continued out through the top thereof. -Fittingrotatably in the upper end of this bore, above the sleeve valve, is acylindricalstem member l0 having a downward extension Il that is smallenough in diameter ndt to touch the sleeve, but is provided with alongitudinal slot-I2 into which the free ends of the ears .8 and I onthe sleeve extend. The'part Il may be inthe form of a tube having alongitudinal section cut out of the same from one end .to the other toprovide,

. able spring on which the collar` rests. l Screwed f provide4 thenember, ls with a misto-conical.

the body of the faucet, their meeting edges formn upon'the upper end ofthe body portion of the faucet are a ring-like member I5, and above thesame, a cap 'I6 through the center' of which al part l1 of the stemmember, of reduced' diameter, extends. The edges or rims that face eachother on the two members, I B and I6, are dished to edge face I8whose,larger diameter is at the top,

and the member 16 with a frusto-conical edlge face I8 whose smallestdiameter is at the top. Thus, when the two'members are screwed upon withthe latter an'annular space more or less triangular in crossl section.In this space is arranged =a washer or ring 20 of soft metal which maybe vcompressed by screwing the/cap down tightly and thus producey aneffective sealv between the Acap and the body ofthe faucet. The springdevice below the collar I4 constantly presses the conical face of thiscollar against a complementarybinternal face 2| on. the cap. By grindingthese two truste-conical faces so as tol cause them to t perfectlytogether, all leak-v age of uids upwardly past the valve stem ispositively prevented.

The valve stem may be turned by a handle 22 attached to the outer end,or by any able means.

The spring means that holds the valve stem or actuator raised may \conveniently take the form of dish-shaped spring washers. In thearrangementshown, there are three off these washers; two of them, thewashers 23, being simple dished rings Io`i..uniforrn radial widths,lplaced with their concave sides toward eachother.v The other suiton theinner ,side fingers or projections 25 that slopein the same directionaway from the plane of the ring. This ring is set on the upper end ofthe body member of the faucet, with the fingers or projections on theupper side. Therefore, the two washers 23` rest on the fingers orprojections vwhich are naturally not as stiff as the washers 23 andtherefore make the Vspring device as a whole more yieldable than if thewasher 24 were like the washers 23.

It will be seen that when the parts of the faucet are assembled. thespring sleeve orvalve controlled by a suitable 4 floats and is notfastened to any other part or rigidly held in any particular position;but is at all times free to adjust itself so as to make the fullestpossible contact with the surrounding stationary walls. The turningforces are not -ap' plied by the actuator to the fingers 6 and l but tothe internal flanges from which the ilngers project. One of theimportant features of my improved construction is that the sleeve valveis always moved from one angular position to another by forces whichboth push and pull the valve around. In other words, in shifting thevalve from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that which it occupiesin Fig'. 2, assuming that the turning movement is counterfclockwise, theedge of the actuator on one side of the slot engages the flange at thebase of the fingers l and pulls the sleeve around. At the same time, theflat faces of the fingers 1 engage with the shoulders 30 beside'theilngers'G and cause the sleeve to be pushed forward. When the handle ofthe faucet is turned in the opposite direction, namely in the clockwiseldirection as viewed ln Figs. 2 and. 3, vthe edge of the actuator on theopposite side of the slot comes into play, engaging the flange carryingthe lingers 6, as shown in Fig. 2; whereas the flat sides of the fingers6 nowv engage the shoulders 3| at the opposite end of the curved sheetor plate. Consequently, rotation of the valve sleeve in the clockwisedirection is also eieeted by combined pulling and pushing forces. Theresult is that the actuator, when tur/ning the valve, always exertsbalancedl pushing and pulling forces and thus causes'no distortion ofthe valve sleeve. y

' Not only are the `driving forces that rotate the sleeve valve alwaysapplied in such a way that any radial components thereof balance eachother and thus do not tend to expand or con tract the valve; but,through the interlocking of the ends of the cylindrical sheet or plateone end edge of the latter cannot move lengthwise relatively to theother and so no warping of the sleeve can be produced. Consequently, thevalve will always function' efllciently, if it be originally a good fit;and, as wear occurs, it automatically expands to the slight extentnecessary to compensate for such wear and thus maintains thel Also,since the valve stem and the screw cap 'third ring* 24 is a'muchnarrower ring and has make a fluidtight joint with each other, which isself adjusting, and the joint between the cap and the body of the faucetis effectively sealed, the faucet as a whole should be as enduring as isthe sl'eeve valve and, at most, may require a tightening of the screwcap a few times during its span of life.

each other lengthwise of the sleeve but permitting the'sleeve to expandand contract freely.

2. In a valve device, a body member having a cylindrical bore and anoutlet leading from one 75 side of the latter, a sleeve of resilientmetal fitting in said boreand divided longitudinally to permit it toexpand andcontract, alrotatable actuator extending loosely into saidsleeve, anges .on the marginal sections of the sleeve along the line ofdivision bent inwardly andhaving at their long free edges ears thatcross each other and permit the long edge of each ange to engage a sideface on the other ange, and elements on the actuator on opposite sidesof the ian'ges to engage with one or the other of the latter uponrotation of the actuator and cause the sleeve to-be turned' said stemabove said faucet body member, dished spring washers around the stembetween the top of the body member and said collar, said collar having afrusto-conical upper face, and a cap surrounding the stem and screwedupon the upper end of the said body member, said cap having an internalfrusto-conical seat complementary to and engaged with the frusto-conicalface of the said collar.

4. In a valve device, a body member having a cylindrical bore opening'out through the top thereof and an outlet at one side, a resilientexpansible sleeve valve in said bore adapted to close said outlet oropen it wholly or in part, a valve stem extending down into said valve,a collar on said stem above said faucet body member, dished springwashers around the stem between the top of the body member and saidcollar, said collar having a frusta-conical upper face, a'capsurrounding the vstem and screwed upon the upper end ofthe said bodymember, said cap having an internal frusto-conical seat `complementaryto and engaged with the frusto-conical face of the said collar, and aring screwed upon the upper end of said body member below said cap, anda metallic packing between and engaged by both the cap and said ring.

5. In a valve device, a bodyvmember having a cylindrical bore openingout through the top thereof and an outlet at one side, a resilientexpansible sleeve valve in said bore adapted to close said outlet or-open it wholly'or in part, a valve stem extending down into said valve,a collar on said stem above said faucet body member, dished springwashers around the stem between the top of the body member and saidcollar, said collar having a frusta-conicalL upper face, a capsurrounding the stem and screwed upon the upper end of the said bodymember, said cap having an internal frusto-conical seat complementary toand engaged with the frusta-conical face of the said collar, and a ringscrewed upon the upper end of said body member below said cap, and ametallic packing between and engaged by both the cap and said ring, thelower edge of the skirt portion oflthe cap and the upper edge of thering being dished to produce between them i,

an annular passage that is triangular in cross section with the b ase ofthe triangle next to the body of the faucet.

6. In a valve device, a body member having a cylindrical bore and anoutlet leading from one vside ofthe latter, a sleeve oi resi, ent metaliltting in said bore and divided longitudinally to permit it to expandand contract, a rotatable actuator extending loosely into said sleeve,the marginal portions of thasleeve along opposite sides of the line ofdivision of the sleeve being turned inwardly in converging relation toeach other and engaging with each other along a longitudinal lineparallel to the axis of the sleeve and spaced a considerable distanceinwardly from the periphery of the sleeve, the parts being soproportioned that said inturned portions of the sleeve are under stressand tend constantly to expand the sleeve, and longitudinal elements onthe actuator on opposite sides of the inturned parts of the sleeve toengage with one or the vother of the latter upon rotation of theactuator and cause the sleeve to be turned by both a pulling and a4pushing action.

7. In a valve device, a body member having a cylindrical bore and anoutlet leading from one side of the latter, a sleeve of resilient metalttingv in said bore and divided longitudinally to permit it to expandand contract, a rotatable actuator extending 'loosely into said sleeve,anges on the marginal sections of the sleeve along the line of divisionbent inwardly and having at their long free edges ears that cross eachother and permit the long edge of each flange to engage a side face on`the other flange a considerable distance, said anges converging towardeach other from 'the periphery'oi the sleeve toward the line of contactbetween the flanges and being under stress so as to tend constantly toexpand the sleeve, and longitudinal elenents on the actuator on oppositesides oi' the flanges to engage with one or the other of the latter uponrotation of the actuator and cause the sleeve to be turned by both. apulling and a pushing action.

8. In combination, a member having a cylin-` I drical bore and anoutlet'leitdin'g` from one side of the latter, asleeve'ofresilient'metal tting invsaid' bore and divided longitudinallyto permit it `to expand and contract, arotatable actuator extendingloosely into said sleeve, the marginal portions of the .sleeve alongommsite` sides ofthe line of division of the sleeve being: turnedinwardly in converging relation'to eaeh other and engaging with eachother along a longitudinal line parallel to the axis of the sleeve andspaced a considerable distance inwardly from the periphery of thesleeve, the parts' being so proportioned that said inturned pdrtionsofthe sleeve are under stress and tendco'nstantly to expand the sleeve,and elements'on the` actuator on opposite sides of the inturnd of thesleeve to engage with one ,orffthe other of the latter upon r'otation ofthe actuator and cause the sleeve to be turned `bylj-liotha r`pullingand a pushing action. v Y

9. In combination, a member having a cylindrical` bore and an outletleading from one side of the latter, a sleeveoi' resilientrnetal fittingin said bore and divided longitudinally to permit it to expand andcontract, a rotatable actuator extending loosely into saidsleevefilanges on the marginal sections ci' the sleeve along the line ofdivision bent inwwrdly and having at their long free edges earsthatcross each other and permit the long edge of each flange to engage aside 'face on the other flange a considerable distance. said ilangesconverging toward each other from the periphery of the sleeve toward theline of contact between the anges and being under stress so as to tendconstantly to expand the sleeve, and elements on the actuator onopposite sides of the ilanges to engage with one or the other of thelatter uponrotation of the actuator and cause the sleeve to be turned byboth i a pullingand a pushing action.

engage to prevent relative movements lengthwise o1' the sleeve whilepermitting the sleeveto expand and contract, said in turned portionsbeing of suiiicient width to serve as expanding devices for the sleeve-when` wear takes piacewhile the sleeve .is mounted in the cylindricalbore o! a cooperative valve element.

11. A valve comprising a sheet of resilient metal bent into the form ofa cylindrical sleeve', the said sheet having the marginal portio at themeeting edges bentiinward at an angle to ach other and engaging witheach other toward their inner free edges, said inturned portions beingoi' suiicient width to serve as expanding devices for the sleeve whenwear takes place while the sleeve is mounted in the cylindrical bore of`a coopera-V tive valve element.

HANS J. M. RASMUSSEN.

